Former Attorney-General of the Federation and Minister of Justice, Abubakar Malami, on Wednesday inaugurated the Director-General and more than 600 members of the African Democratic Congress, ADC, Campaign Council in Kebbi State, charging them to build a united, inclusive and disciplined political movement across the state.
Speaking at the inauguration, Malami said the constitution of the campaign council was more than an announcement of appointments, describing it as the establishment of a coordinated grassroots structure to advance the interests of all ADC candidates in the state.
He said the council comprised members from different communities, local government areas, senatorial districts and backgrounds, reflecting the diversity of Kebbi State and the party’s commitment to ensuring broad representation in its political activities.
Malami acknowledged the party’s senatorial candidates, including General Aminu Bande for Kebbi Central, Garba Maidoki for Kebbi South and Chiroman Kabi, Alhaji Mera, for Kebbi North, as well as candidates contesting seats in the House of Representatives, State House of Assembly and other elective positions on the ADC platform.
He urged members of the campaign council to operate as a single political family rather than competing structures serving individual ambitions.
“This Campaign Council represents our collective ADC campaign. It is not about one candidate or one elective position. From the governorship to the Senate, House of Representatives and State House of Assembly, we must work as one political family,” Malami said.
The former minister warned against tribalism, sectionalism and internal rivalry, saying they could undermine the strength of the party.
He said no tribe, senatorial district, local government area, ward or community should feel excluded from the campaign, just as no genuine ADC member should be marginalised because of previous political affiliations or support for another aspirant.
Malami urged party leaders and campaign officials to make reconciliation a central part of their responsibilities.
“Where there are disagreements, let us reconcile. Where there are grievances, let us listen. Where there is suspicion, let us rebuild trust. Our diversity must become our strength,” he said.
He also stressed the principle of “One ADC, One Campaign”, saying members could not publicly campaign together while privately undermining one another.
Malami said the success of every ADC candidate should be regarded as a collective achievement and called for effective coordination among campaign structures at all levels.
“Different candidates, one ADC. Different communities, one Kebbi State. Different responsibilities, one common purpose,” he said.
He urged members to resolve internal disagreements through consultation and dialogue, warning against allowing differences within the party to degenerate into public conflicts.
Malami also directed the campaign council to conduct its activities with dignity, discipline and respect for political opponents, communities and the electorate.ul and lawful and be devoid of ethnic insults, hate speech and attacks on people based on their backgrounds or political choices.
The former minister reminded supporters that elections were temporary, while relationships binding communities together endured beyond electoral contests.
“After the elections, we will still worship together, attend the same markets, celebrate together, mourn together and raise our children together. No political ambition is worth destroying those bonds,” he said.
Addressing the Director-General and members of the campaign council, Malami said their appointments should be regarded as a call to service rather than a reward or conferment of status.
He charged them to organise, mobilise, reconcile aggrieved members, listen to citizens and take the ADC message to every local government area, ward, community and polling unit across the state.
He urged members to measure their contribution not by the positions they received but by the communities mobilised, disagreements resolved, citizens engaged and people brought into the political movement.
Malami said the inauguration marked the beginning of a major phase of political mobilisation and grassroots engagement across Kebbi State.
He called on members to return to their respective communities as bridge-builders and ambassadors of the ADC, strengthen grassroots structures and ensure that every part of the state felt represented in the movement.
Reaffirming the values expected to guide the campaign, Malami said, “We choose unity over division. We choose cooperation over rivalry. We choose reconciliation over bitterness. We choose respect over insults. We choose service over personal interest.”
He urged ADC members and supporters to rise above tribalism, sectionalism and personal differences in pursuit of a collective vision for Kebbi State.
“Today is not a reward for work completed. Today is the beginning of the work. Let us arise above our differences. Let us arise above tribalism and sectionalism. Let us arise together in service to our people. And together, let us make Kebbi State shine. Arise and Shine!” he said.
